Afghan strike against Taliban kills 13 civilians

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An Afghan official says at least 13 civilians, including women and children, were killed in an overnight airstrike by the Afghan security forces that targeted the Taliban in western Herat province.

Gelani Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor, said on Tuesday that the airstrike in Shindand district also wounded seven other civilians.

He says the target of Monday night’s strike was a Taliban base and a prison run by the insurgents. The prison was destroyed and 19 prisoners — both military and civilians escaped.

Farhad also said that the civilians who were killed died in their homes just next to the Taliban base.

According to the spokesman, the airstrikes also killed 16 Taliban militants. The Taliban have not commented on the attack in Herat province and Farhad’s information could not be independently verified.